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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Portobello

Portobello.

Portobello is a favourite seaside resort on the Peninsula, thirteen miles north-east from Dunedin by coach, and two miles and a half by ferry steamer from Port Chalmers. There is also a direct ferry service from Dunedin. Portobello has a post and telephone office, a good hotel, a school, Presbyterian and Anglican churches, a Masonic Hall, two good general stores, and a blacksmith's shop. It is beautifully situated, has a good climate, and is well sheltered from the cold winds. The settlers are engaged solely in the dairy industry, and the district is acknowledged to be one of the finest for grazing purposes in Otago. There are two main roads, the higher and the lower; the lower one is most suitable for cycling, as it is quite level. Branches from the main road lead to Harper's Inlet and Wycliffe Bay—two picturesque sheets of water. Harbour Cone is within a mile of the village, and, as its name implies, is a page 584 perfectly shaped cone. A magnificent view of the Peninsula is obtained from the top, whence one sees the whole harbour, with Seacliff towards the north, and Saddle Hill towards the south. Portobello attracts large numbers of visitors during the summer season.

Barnes, Robert Hugh . Wheelwright and General Blacksmith, Portobello. Mr. Barnes is a son of the late Mr. William Barnes, and a grandson of the late Mr. John Barnes, who was Mayor of Dunedin in 1885. He learned his trade with Mr. A. Roberts, coachbuilder of Great King Street, Dunedin, with whom he spent six years, and he was subsequently at the Tuapeka diggings for a year. Mr. Barnes followed his trade at Waiwera for a time, and then entered the employment of the Union Steamship Company, where he remained for a year. After some time as blacksmith at the Waihao Downs station he returned to Dunedin, and for eight years looked after his mother's business. Mr. Barnes started business as a blacksmith and wheelwright at Port Chalmers in 1899, and three years later acquired his present successful business at Portobello.

Dickson Brothers (William McGregor Dickson, James McColl Dickson, and Alexander Lyon McGregor Dickson), Sheepfarmers, Portobello.

Mr. William Mcgregor Dickson , J.P., “Belmont,” Portobello, is the eldest son of the late Mr. William Dickson, an old resident of the Peninsula, who died in 1893. He was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and accompanied his father first to Australia, and subsequently, in 1883, to New Zealand. He was engaged in farming at Portobello for a time, and afterwards carried on a sawmilling business with his brothers at Catlins river. The present partnership between the brothers as sheep and cattle farmers was entered into in 1881, and the firm's operations in fat cattle are now the largest on the Peninsula. Mr. Dickson, who has been a Justice of the Peace since 1888, was a member of the road board for thirty years, during twelve of which he was chairman; and retired in 1904, not seeking re-election. He was also a member of the old Peninsula County Council, and is a deacon of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dickson belonged to the Portobello Rifles for eight years, and was also a member of the Rifle Club. He married a daughter of Mr. John Kerr, an old settler, and there is a family of six.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Mr. W. M. Dickson.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. W. M. Dickson.

Mr. James Mccoll Dickson , “Rosemount,” Portobello, was born in Victoria, and accompanied his family to Dunedin in 1863. In conjunction with his brothers he carried on a sawmilling business at Catlins river for some years before entering into the present partnership. Mr. Dickson was elected chairman of the Portobello Road Board in 1904, and has been a member of the
Mr. R. H. Barnes' Premises.

Mr. R. H. Barnes' Premises.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Mr. J. M. Dickson.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. J. M. Dickson.

page 585 school committee for twelve years and its chairman five years. He is also a trustee of the Cemetery and Library Committees. Mr. Dickson has been a successful prizetaker at the competitions of the Portobello and Peninsula Rifles, with which he was connected for several years. He married a daughter of Mr. John Kerr, and has four children.

Mr. Alexander Lyon Mcgregor Dickson , who is the fourth son of the late Mr. William Dickson, was born in Scotland, and accompanied his family to Australia and New Zealand. He is a member of the Otago Heads Road Board, and has been connected with the volunteers for many years. Mr. Dickson married Miss Anderson, of Roslyn, Dunedin, and has three children.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Mr. A. L. M. Dickson.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. A. L. M. Dickson.

Lewis, John Gard'ner , Farmer, Milton, Portobello. Mr. Lewis, who is the second son of the late Mr. J. A. Lewis, was born in 1851, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand in 1862. He was educated by his father, and since his father's death has carried on farming at Portobello, with his brother, Mr. Arthur Lewis. Mr. Lewis was for years a member of the Portobello Road Board, and also of the Portobello Rifle Volunteers, which he left on the disbandment of the corps, with the rank of coloursergeant. He was one of the promoters of the Peninsula Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and also of the Kaike races. Mr. Lewis, who is unmarried, is a Past Master in the Masonic Order.

Mr. J. G. Lewis.

Mr. J. G. Lewis.

Lewis, Arthur , Farmer, Portobello. Mr. Lewis is the third son of the late Mr. J. A. Lewis, was born at Home, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1862. He now carries on farming in conjunction with his brother at Portobello. Mr. Lewis was for many years a member of the Peninsula Rifle Volunteers, but has taken no part in local affairs. He married a daughter of Mr. W. Park, of Blueskin, and has three children. Mrs Lewis was formerly teacher at the Portobello and Sandymount schools

Mccartney, John James , Farmer, Roselle, Portobello. Mr. McCartney was born in 1865, at Portobello, and is the eldest son of Mr. George McCartney, who came to New Zealand by the ship “Jura” in 1858. He was brought up to farming and succeeded to his father's farm at Portobello in 1898. Mr. McCartney was elected a member of the Portobello Road Board in 1904, and he is also a member of the Farmers' Union. He married Miss Farquharson, daughter of Mr. James Farquharson, an old colonist of Port Chalmers.

Mr. and Mrs J. J. McCartney.

Mr. and Mrs J. J. McCartney.

Mr. James Andrew Lewis , F.E.I.S., sometime of “Milton,” Portobello, was well known as a teacher at Livingstone, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, before coming to Port Chalmers with his wife and family by the ship “Silistria,” in 1862. Soon after his arrival he was appointed headmaster of the North East Harbour school, where he taught with much success until 1865, when he removed to his farm at Milton, Portobello, where his two sons still carry on farming. Mr. Lewis died at his residence in 1869, at the age of fifty-seven, leaving three sons and six daughters. His wife died in 1881, at the age of seventy-one.

Mr. John Mccartney , J.P., who lives in retirement at his residence, Leith Walk, Portobello, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and came to Otago with his father and two brothers by the ship “Storm Cloud,” in 1860. He studied for the legal profession for some years before leving the Old Country, but on coming to New Zealand he resolved to follow an outdoor life. Mr. McCartney spent some time at the Gabriel's Gully gold diggings, and was also engaged in cutting timber and firewood at Pine Hill. In 1864 he accompanied the family to Wickliffe Bay, where he farmed until his retirement in 1901. Mr. McCartney was at one time a member of the road board of which he was chairman for two years, and he was chairman or secretary of the Portobello school committee for over thirty years. He is a life member and secretary and treasurer of the Peninsula Library Endowment Trustees, and has been honorary secretary of the library committee for the last thirty-five years. Mr. McCartney possesses numerous shooting trophies and the bronze medal and the New Zealand Rifle Association's medal, besides being entitled to the long service medal. He has been a most enthusiastic volunteer since 1868, when the Portobello contingent of the Port Navals was formed. Two years later the Portobello Rifles became a separate body, with Mr. McCartney as lieutenant commanding. He was gazetted captain in 1878 and major in 1883, and, on the disbandment of the Portobello Rifles in 1884, became president of the Portobello Rifle Club. Mr. McCartney has been a Justice of the Peace since 1884. He married the eldest daughter of the late Mr. James Seaton, M.H.R., and there are two sons and three daughters.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Major and Mrs J. McCartney.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Major and Mrs J. McCartney.